Louisiana Swamp Stomp
“Keep on scratchin’ and don’t hold back!” sings Omar Coleman on the opening track of Louisiana Swamp Stomp, a collection of blues, zydeco, and jazz. Those lyrics are representative of the attitude expressed by Louisiana residents as they continue to deal with both natural and man-made disasters. It’s another example of the “never-say-die” attitude of persevering Cajuns. Joining Coleman are such notables as Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith (also from Chicago), Percy Sledge, Buckwheat Zydeco, Dwayne Dopsie (son of Zydeco legend Rockin’ Dopsie), Little Freddie King and other local favorites, particularly blues guitarist, Buddy Flett.
Flett is a Louisiana native son and accomplished slide guitar blues man. In 2008 he fell victim to viral encephalitis, endured a medically induced coma and has rebounded to his pre-illness form. In addition to the inspiration of his recovery and perseverance, Flett contributes an original composition to this collection (“Livin’ Ain’t Easy”) on which he sings and plays slide guitar and bass drum.
Louisiana’s influence in blues, jazz, and many other genres has spread around the world and from Chicago to the piney hills of North Louisiana to the Treme’ section of New Orleans, artists have come together to support Flett and the Northern Louisiana Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Foundation. The NLBSCIF will benefit from the proceeds of this project.
Sonny Landreth gets the credit on the title track, “Swamp Stomp”, an instrumental featuring both blues guitar and zydeco-flavored accordion. “Swamp Stomp” was written by Shreveport musician Bruce Flett. Percy Sledge contributes a soulful cover of “First You Cry.” Lil Buck Sinegal (from Clifton Chenier’s band) and Buckwheat Zydeco chime in with an up-tempo cover of “Don’t You Lie to Me”.
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